Breaking: Steve Ballmer now owns the L.A. Clippers

After a very convoluted and public bid to purchase the Los Angeles Clippers from Donald Sterling, former Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer has apparently triumphed in his bid to own the NBA basketball franchise. Steve Ballmer is reportedly paying $2 billion for the Los Angeles Clippers franchise, and while Ballmer (and Microsoft's roots) are anchored in Seattle (a city that's been crying out for an NBA franchise since the Supersonics moved to Oklahoma), Ballmer has repeatedly said he isn't moving the franchise away from LA. “It is really unfortunate that the greatest city in America doesn’t have a professional basketball team. And so, I still hope that happens," Ballmer said in an interview last week. "I am humbled and honored to be the new owner of the Los Angeles Clippers," Ballmer added in a statement yesterday. 

As for the Clipper players, they seem pretty chuffed at having a change in ownership. Read their statements here.